Sat, Feb 11 2012
For those of you who have long been craving a sip of your favourite Starbucks coffee, the wait is finally over. You can already get your cup in the very centre of Sofia, at 62 General Yossif Gurko Street, right on the corner with Vassil Levski Boulevard.
"We are proud that with the opening of our first shop in Bulgaria we will present Starbucks Coffee and the unique Starbucks experience to our clients in a country with traditions and a very rich coffee culture," Yannis Kalfakakos, executive director of Marinopoulos Coffee Company Bulgaria, the company holding the licence to operate Starbucks coffee shops in the country, said at the November 26 opening. "We are excited to become a part of this coffee tradition and society."
Starbucks will offer its Sofia clients more than 15 types of high-quality Arabica coffee and a big selection of original beverages. The company is also working with local producers to offer foods that use traditional Bulgarian ingredients and best fit the food habits and lifestyle in Bulgaria.
"Part of our uniqueness is due to the fact that every client can order their beverage according to their own taste and to enjoy it in combination with a local menu. Everything is offered in an innovative way, which compliments our high-quality coffee served in a pleasant atmosphere," Bistra Arsova, regional manager of Marinopoulos Coffee Company Bulgaria, said.
Coffee Republic, which owns five coffeeshops in Bulgaria, said it was bought by an Arab investor.
In the fourth quarter of 2011, the average monthly salary increased to 727 leva, 4.9 per cent higher than in Q3, the National Statistics Institute says.
For the first time in six months, global food prices rose overall in January 2012, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation said.
The package will be discussed with the Association of Bulgarian Banks before the amendments are submitted to Parliament.
Debate at the half-day event will cover what has been achieved so far and what further can be done by the Bulgarian Government to support development of the market.
Selectivity, not popularity, is the driving force behind Sofia's most exclusive members' only club.

Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.

Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.

Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.